6 Chapter Six: Mobilizing a Massive Force

Rather than a belated birthday gift, it could be said that this was a symbolic compensation for Arthur given under Queen Victoria's threat and her own satisfaction of achieving her goals.

Arthur's 17th birthday fell on January 13th. Though influenced by Duke Arthur, he spent the day quietly with his family without any celebrations or gatherings.

However, this did not mean that the British royal family, led by Queen Victoria and Prince Edward, were unaware of it.

On the contrary, as the Crown Prince and Prince of Wales since childhood, Prince Edward had cultivated a substantial amount of power. Though insignificant to Queen Victoria, he definitely knew about Arthur's birthday.

Regardless, the 50 million pounds bestowed by Prince Edward were genuine, and naturally, Arthur did not decline them.

Though 30 million pounds of it came from a loan from the Bank of London—where a significant portion of shares were held by Prince Edward—this sum was essentially gifted.

With this, Arthur's funds would soon reach 130 million pounds. Confident in his personal wealth, he believed he could rank among the top five in the world.

Having not observed Arthur's reaction, Prince Edward finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Queen Victoria's rather satisfied expression.

The Crown Prince knew that while he appeared to be the stable heir to the throne, if Queen Victoria were to announce the revocation of his crown prince status, the majority of the British public and the political arena would recognize this.

Never underestimate Queen Victoria's position in the hearts of the British commoners. Britain's integration into the vast United Kingdom was essential to the supreme and unparalleled position of Queen Victoria across all kingdoms.

"Arthur, you should have become the supreme Duke of the British Empire, but since you wish to go to remote Australia, I won't stop you. As your grandmother, I have nothing good to give you but £100 million in compensation and £50 million worth of industrial equipment," Queen Victoria said, patting Arthur's head.

"Australia is, after all, a remote area. Not to mention education and medical care, even basic infrastructure is far behind and highly unstable," Victoria continued slowly. "The money I give you is not meant for you to enjoy, but to utilize it and the industrial equipment to develop infrastructure, healthcare, education, and industry in Australia. This is for both yourself and all Australians, isn't it?"

"I understand, Grandmother. Since I have become the Duke of Australia, I will dedicate my life to the development of the whole nation," Arthur nodded solemnly.

"That's good. Though we travel together this time, you will go to Australia and I will go to New Zealand. Your grandmother can't always be there to protect you—you'll have to continue on your own," Queen Victoria continued to advise.

"On behalf of the British Royal Family, I present you with a 2,000-strong Royal Guard. Their families will also accompany you to Australia. Arthur, if you can't take it, go to New Zealand to find your grandmother. Don't try to toughen it alone."

Though Queen Victoria's words may seem nagging, they warmed Arthur's heart like the rays of the spring sun.

Having been in this world for over five months, Queen Victoria was one of the few who genuinely treated him well.

On March 4th, 1900, the fleet, prepared for over half a month, finally set sail. This time, the scale of the fleet expanded significantly, accompanied by 4,000 guards, half of whom were already Arthur's private personnel.

Speaking of the Royal Guards, also known as the Royal Guard Division, they are the private military force exclusive to the British royal family, with a history spanning hundreds of years.

Each member of the Royal Guard is meticulously chosen from the British military. Their daily training and disciplinary standards far exceed those of ordinary British soldiers.

Although the British Empire's Royal Navy's fame extends worldwide, Britain's army is less well-known.

However, in reality, the fighting capacity of regular British troops ranks among the top three in Europe. Apart from being slightly inferior to the German and French armies, their soldier quality and weapons far surpass those of other European armies.

Exquisite and meticulously selected from among these British troops, the Royal Guard Division holds its own against Germany's elite forces.

Composed of five infantry regiments, two cavalry corps, and a reserve corps, the Royal Guard Division is an essential means for the British royal family to maintain its rule.

The departure of the fleet was enthusiastically seen off by a large number of London citizens who remained in the harbor, reluctant to leave even after all the ships had sailed away.

On March 14th, after a long journey of ten days, the fleet arrived at the Suez Canal—the busiest waterway in the world, both now and in the future.

The Suez Canal connects East Africa with India and Southeast Asia, and is considered crucial by Britain for controlling India.

As such, since gaining control over the Suez Canal, the British Empire has stationed heavy troops there to safeguard this vital waterway.

The canal guards received advance notice of Queen Victoria's arrival and had already prepared a formation to welcome her.

Arthur also sensed the admiration and respect for Queen Victoria among the English people of this era. Victoria's reign of several decades signified the achievements made by the British Empire and instilled a sense of pride and self-importance among all who lived there.

Moving along with Queen Victoria, the two reviewed the canal guards before the fleet set out once more—this time, to India.

This journey of Queen Victoria's may not have been as simple as recuperation, as the ultimate destination was White Island in New Zealand, with stopovers in the Suez Canal, India, and Australia.

Each stopover held a special meaning to Queen Victoria: Australia was to be Arthur's territory, and her visit was intended to deter local forces. The Suez Canal and India were strategic areas that the British Empire could not afford to lose.

Britain's rise to power relied half on technology advancements from the Industrial Revolution and half on a wealth of land, population, and cheap resources gained from overseas colonization.

India, in particular, with its inexhaustible labor force, excellent ports, and abundant crop yields, was considered the pearl on the crown.

For the British Empire, the importance of British India far exceeded that of any other colony.